ROAD TO NOWHERE: UConn has lost 12 of its last 14 true road games, dating back to February, 2017. The Huskies went 2-9 on the road last year, their average margin of deficit in those nine losses: 17.6.

This is just UConn’s second true road game this season. The Huskies squandered a 13-point lead late in the first half and lost at South Florida 76-68 on Jan. 2. Clearly, the team needs to learn how to toughen up, deal with a hostile crowd and find a way to win on the road. The sparkling new Fifth Third Arena, which was renovated over the past year, may be the toughest place to do so in the AAC. UConn hasn’t won in the Queen City since Feb. 22, 2011.

Why is it so tough to win conference road games in general?

“Just being out of where you’re comfortable, where you practice, different backgrounds,” said Dan Hurley. “Some players just don’t like the aesthetics when you walk into an arena. You don’t like the shooting background, or maybe you can’t handle the pressure. Here, they have a great atmosphere. A place like this, that’s worth five or six points before the game starts.”

“The comforts of home is probably a true statement,” he added. “But high-level dudes love getting on the road and trying to silence the big crowd. Hopefully, we’ve got some high-level dudes (Saturday).”

BEARCAT BULLIES: If Jalen Adams’ 75-foot prayer doesn’t find the net in the 2016 AAC tournament, Cincinnati is working on an eight-game winning streak against the Huskies. As it is, the Bearcats have won seven of the last eight meetings and Cincinnati has won five straight, seven of the last eight and eight of the last 10 meetings with UConn.

SO YOU’RE TELLING ME THERE’S A CHANCE?: This isn’t a vintage Bearcat team, however. Cincy was picked to finish second in the AAC by the league’s coaches, probably largely out of respect. But the team lost three stalwarts to graduation, including a pair of current NBA players (first-round pick Jacob Evans and AAC player of the year Gary Clark).

Cincinnati lost at perennial league doormat ECU a week ago, and needed late-game heroics to force overtime and eventually win at Tulsa on Thursday night.

CANE IS ABLE: East Hartford product and former Sacred Heart University star Cane Broome has been up and down with production and playing time this season, but he came up big Thursday night. His jumper with 1.2 seconds left tied the game and sent it to overtime, and the senior guard finished with 16 points off the bench.

“He gives them that offensive element, a slippery offensive player that can get in the paint and make plays,” said Hurley.